Dream car helps Maddiston’s Allan race towards Beatson target

Chris McCall

A life-threatening illness hasn’t stopped car fan Allan Lewis hitting top gear in his quest to raise an incredible £25,000 for the Beatson Institute.

The 39-year-old from Maddiston wanted to say thank you to the West of Scotland Cancer Centre after its treatment prolonged his life expectancy – allowing him to witness the birth of his baby daughter Millie.

Allan was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in June 2012 and was told there was a real chance he would die before his pregnant wife Lee, a nurse at Stirling Community Hospital, had given birth.

But what started out as a more modest plan to raise £5000 quickly entered the fast lane when Allan began taking his beloved Ford Focus RS to car shows around the country.

The story of Allan’s determination – and how he came to acquire his dream car – proved a hit with motoring fans, who donated items to be raffled as well as cash.

The car itself has also proved a success, winning a cool 21 trophies this year.

“Fast cars have always been my thing,” he said. “I had my eye on the RS since it came out, but after moving house, it was looking like a distant dream. Then after my diagnosis I wasn’t bothered.”

But Allan, a former Graeme High pupil, was stunned when he returned home one day to find an RS in his driveway – courtesy of dad Michael.

“It only had 4000 miles on the clock,” the dad-of-two said.

“I decided in January to raise money for the Beatson as a thank you – they have never given up on me.”

Through a combination of car shows and fundraising nights, Allan - supported by son Cameron (12), a Braes High pupil - hopes to raise almost £15,000 by the end of October. BP, where several of his dad’s pals work, has pledged to donate £10,000,

Allan, who has taken a break from chemotherapy, continued: “It’s been hard going to car shows when I’ve been ill.

“But so many people have helped me along the way. My employers EWOS and all my colleagues, Kevin at Spaneramma, my good pal Brian Duffie, the Syngenta Employee’s Charity, Knockhill and Crail racetracks, GI raceway, DDC car club and Skidz in Falkirk.”